Chocolate with all its wonderful tastes and addicting effects has been a favorite topic of different research in recent years. Scientists and doctors have exerted their resources and efforts to breakdown the components of chocolates and explain their effects to the human body. One popular study is about chocolates’ effects and benefits to the heart. Some people claim that chocolate is bad for the heart and the nervous system due to the similarities of its effects with consuming caffeine as well as its toxicity when animals eat even a small amount of it.
What makes chocolate healthy?
Chocolate comes from cocoa beans which are harvested from fruit pods of the cacao plant. This means that chocolate has components similar to those found in fruits and vegetables. These include antioxidants such as flavonoids or specifically called flavonols when found in cacao beans.
Flavonoids have protective benefits to plants such as repairing damage and protecting them from environmental radicals. Similar effects are provided to the human body wherein antioxidants help the human cells to resist damages brought about by free radicals such as pollution.
In addition, flavonoids are also known to help reduce platelet activation, affect the relaxation capabilities of blood vessels, and positively affect the balance of similar to hormone compounds called eicosanoids that can be beneficial to cardiovascular health.
What makes chocolate good for the heart?
Dark chocolate, in particular, is recommended for health enthusiasts and to those who wish to benefit from consuming gourmet chocolates. This is due to the fact that dark chocolate has higher cacao content on which all the chocolate goodness and benefits come from. In addition, plain dark chocolates have less cocoa fat and do not have milk and other ingredients commonly found in popular chocolate bars. Studies that have made use of dark chocolates and flavonol-rich cocoa drinks have positive results.
One study was done in Athens Medical School in Greece where experts investigated and studied the effects of eating dark chocolate on the functions of the blood vessel on 17 young and healthy subjects. Only after 3 hours of consuming dark chocolates, the scientists found out that the subjects had a 7% decrease in aortic stiffness.
Furthermore, another revelation was that an artery in the arm dilated significantly more in response to increase in blood flow. Since aortic stiffness and elasticity determines the heart’s performance and the risks of cardiovascular diseases, the study concluded that consuming gourmet chocolates improved nitric oxide bioavailability and activate central mechanisms which are beneficial to heart health.
Another study compared the effects of dark and white chocolates on blood flow and platelet activities using 20 healthy male smokers. The subjects were chosen due to the major risk factor in cardiovascular health of smoking. Cigarette smoke, inhaled by both active and passive smokers, affects the endothelial cells which line the walls of the arteries. The subjects were divided into 2 groups and after a 24-hour polyphenol rich food abstinence, were given 40 grams of dark or white chocolate. The study was able to conclude that after 8 hours of ingesting dark chocolates, there was a rapid and significant improvement of endothelial and platelet functions. In addition, dark chocolate can slow or block reactive oxygen species that cause endothelium dysfunction.
Like any food, use moderation when consuming gourmet chocolates! Despite all the positive benefits this delightful treat is now known to carry, it still does have calories!
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